A Real Shot for El Camino Real

Based on numbers alone, this is not a year of strong representation in the City Section 3-A Division football playoffs.

El Camino Real, Monroe and Chatsworth highs represent the smallest number of area teams in the 3-A playoffs since 1990.

With six area teams earning berths in 4-A, little more than half of the area’s 17 City teams will be playing a first-round game today.

In the past five years, six or more area teams earned a 3-A berth.

But there is an upside to the weak representation: An area team has advanced to the 3-A championship game in six of the past seven years. And in 1990--when the area was represented by just three teams in the 3-A playoffs--Poly won the title, beating Lincoln, 28-8.

FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS

Today

ROOSEVELT (4-5) vs. EL CAMINO REAL (6-4)

At El Camino Real High, 2 p.m.

The Conquistadores, thought to be contenders in the Northwest Valley Conference at the start of the season, lost four of their final six games and were seeded No. 2 in the 3-A Division. A less-competitive division could spell a championship for El Camino Real, which is 3-1 against 3-A opponents and teams that didn’t qualify for playoffs and 2-3 against 4-A opponents. Coach Rick Hayashida said the Conquistadores are about as healthy as they were during a 4-0 start. Running back Quincy Wright has rushed for 1,364 yards and 15 touchdowns. Roosevelt’s offensive set is similar to Taft, but the Rough Riders are not as talented. They finished seventh in the nine-team Northern Conference.

CRENSHAW (4-5-1) vs. MONROE (7-3)

At Monroe High, 7 p.m.

Monroe Coach Sloan Bunting is not misled by Crenshaw’s record. “They’re big and fast,” he said of the Cougars. Crenshaw, which finished seventh in a competitive Southern Pacific Conference, platoons three running backs out of a multi-set offense. Monroe, which employs a double-wing formation, is as close to 100% health-wise as it has been since Week 4, when wingback George Garcia sprained his ankle and sat out three games. Vinny Walker, Garcia’s backfield mate who injured his ankle three weeks ago, has rushed for 1,397 yards and 19 touchdowns. Garcia needs 37 yards to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. Seventh-seeded Monroe, bolstered by a forfeit victory against Poly, has lost its past three games on the field.

CHATSWORTH (5-5) vs. SOUTH GATE (6-3)

At South Gate High, 7 p.m.

Chatsworth faces fourth-seeded South Gate, which finished fourth in the Southeastern Conference. The Chancellors won three of their past five games, including a 34-33 upset over Birmingham, a 4-A playoff team. Chatsworth will be without top running back Clyde Young, who was declared academically ineligible, and quarterback Ryan Martinez, who was ejected from the game against Granada Hills last week after drawing two unsportsmanlike penalties for excessive celebration.

This could be the last game for Chatsworth’s Myron Gibford, who recently announced his retirement after 18 seasons as head coach.

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City Champions

A look at the past five City Section 3-A Division championship games

* 1996--Wilson 14, Van Nuys 7

* 1995--Reseda 10, Eagle Rock 7

* 1994--Bell 25, Birmingham 3

* 1993--San Pedro 31, Fremont 7

* 1992--San Pedro 24, Taft 7